Revelation

"Without a revelation of who you are, you will shrug (throw) off self-discipline."
Arette Burger

Phenomenal Woman

Many people wonder where
my secret lies,
I'm not cute or built to suit
a fashion model's size.
When I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes,
The flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They'll try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud,
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palms of my hands,
The need of my care,
Because I'm a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That's my mother and your mother,
And my grandmother and your grandmother,
And my great grandmother and your great grandmother,
And your great great and your great great great...
And all you women...
And me.

And still I rise.


Maya Angelou "I love this poem. I wrote it for all women."
This version as she spoke this poem.
(The written version has some differences.)